Telegraph-key



(No Model.)

TELBGRAPH KEY.l No. 406,489. 8 A Patented July 9. 1889.

kuni" num l i ilIIIlIlllllllllimlllIIIIIIHIHIHUE|HIMM 25V? @am UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..-

HENRY- A. VALDO, OF RENO, NEVADA.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,489, dated July 9, 1889.

Application tiled May 5 1888. Serial No. 272,998. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ALLEN W ALDO, of Reno, Washoe count-y, State of Nevada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Telegraph-Keys in and to the CutfO or Circuit-Closer Thereof", which improvement and invention are fully set fort-h in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates, generally, to telegraph-keys, but more particularly to that class of such keys known as self-closing7 keys, wherein the circuit is normally closed by a lever auxiliary to the key proper, and is opened by the operator in the act of placing t-he finger upon the key to manipulate the same.

The invention consists, among other things, in an improved construction of the self-closer, whereby a more efficient operation is effected.

As a more ready understanding of the improvement may be had by a detailed description thereof, such description will' now be given, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

In said drawings, Figure l is aperspective view of a telegraph-key provided with the improved self-closer. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the self-closer occupying its elevate'd position, as is the case when the key is being used. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the key, the self-closer being in its lowered or closed position. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modified form of the self-closer and a change in the manner of mounting it.

Referring to said drawings, it is to be understood that so far as the invention is concerned the telegraphic key may be of any of the wellknown forms, and that the key therein shown is simply taken for a convenient illustration ot the practical application of the improved self-closer thereto.

A represents the lever of the key, having its pivots a mounted in the ends of the adj ustable bearing-screws h, and provided with the usual rear adjusting-screw c. The eX- treme forward end of the key has the ordinary finger-piece or button d, and intermediate between the latter and the pivots are C located the-contacts e f, the former projecting from the under side of the lever and the latter extending upward, immediately below the contact c and insulated from the key-frame,

stem 13, that extends forward over the for-.

ward end of the key-lever, and at its end is provided with a laterallyextending arm 14, that overlies the button d, and the ends of which in the preferred form project beyond the edges of the button, so that the operator in the act of placing his finger on said button must necessarily insert it between the button and the arm 14 of the self-closer and lift it from its nor'mal position (shown in Fig. l) to that shown in Fig. 2, thus opening the circuit and keeping it open while operating by reason of the arm 14 resting upon the back of the operators lingers, as will be explained further. spring toward the sides of the key-lever A, and bear thus frictionally against the ends of the enlarged portions ll of the pivots a', thus insuring metallic connection through the arms lO of the self-closer.

Coacting with the self-closer is abifurcated spring-contact l5, which is mounted over an insulated piece 1G, but in electrical contact' with the contact f, and consists` of a pair of spring-fingers S, that rise vertically upon opposite sides of the key-lever. The upper ends of the springefingers 8 are curved outwardly to allow the lower edges of the arms 10 to pass them, and so as to lie in close frictional contact with the vertical sides of the contact, as shown in Fig. 3. From this construction it results that each time the seltcloser is raised out of contact with the spring-fingers, and in falling back in contact therewith its arms slide frietionally against the same, thus serving to keep the points of contact constantly bright and insuring good metallic connection.

The ends of the arm lO tend to* IOO The head 12 is located far enough above the lower edges of the arms to permit them to have a slight spring action in passing the contact 15, which latter, owing to the fact that 5 the contact ybetween the arms 10 and its 1ingers S is upon their vertical sides, in contradistinction to simply resting upon a fiat surface or in a groove, is rendered more effective in closing the circuit, as no dirt or dust 1o can accumulate on the contact to interfere therewith. y

To prevent the self-closer B from being thrown back so far as not to fall back automatically into contact with the fingers 8 when the operators iinger is removed from the button, there is provided a suitably-shaped stop C, carried by the key-lever.

It is not essential that the arms of the selfcloser should be mounted on the pivots of the zo key-lever; but, as shown in Fig. et, said armsV may be mounted on an independent pivot 17, projecting from the key-frame. The other construction is to be preferred, as the selfcloser may be readily applied to existing in- 2 5 struments at smaller expense.

What I claim isl. The combinatiom'with atelegraphic key,

of a self-closer consisting of a pair of pivotally-mounted arms having a stem. overlying t-he key-button and a pair of spring-iingers adapted to contact with the sides of the arms of the self-closer, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a'telegraphic key, of a self-closer consistingl of a pair of pivotally-mounted spring-arms 10, having a stem overlying1 the key-button, and a fixed bifurcated contact consisting of a pair of springfingers 8, adapted to receive the arms l0 between them and bear against their sides, substantially as described.

- 3. The combination, with a telegraphic key, of a self-closer consisting of a pair of springarms l0, pivotally mounted at one end on the pivots of the key-lever and at the other end united in a head having a stem overlying the key-button, and a pair of spring-fingers adapted to contact with the sides of the arms of the self-closer, substantially as described.

H. A. WALDO.

Titnessesz T. V. JULIEN, .T. C. HAGERMAN,

C. C. WARNER. 

